Talks on for consensus on metro rail land acquisition

The district level purchase committee (DLPC) entrusted with fixing the value of land to be acquired for setting up metro rail stations has initiated discussions to reach a consensus with land owners.

Main focus

The talks chaired by District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareeth are being held based on the prices initially fixed by DLPC. The discussion on Tuesday focused on determining the price of land to be acquired for stations at Edappally High School Junction, Kaloor bus stand, Thykoodam, and Pettah and for the Seematti corridor.

At Edappally, 8.50 cents need to be acquired, at Kaloor bus stand 2.4 cents, whereas at Elamkulam 2.64 cents need to be acquired. Notification has been issued for acquiring 1.17 acres at Thykoodam and 1.37 acres at Pettah. Twenty-seven cents will be acquired for the Seematti corridor.

The district administration is aiming to complete the discussions within a week and to hand over the land to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Sanction given

Administrative sanction has been received for acquiring land for metro stations at Pathadippalam, Aluva Bypass, Companyppady, Apollo Tyres, Edappally Junction, Pulinchodu, Palarivattom, Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Madhava Pharmacy, and Maharaja’s College. The alignment of these stations has been fixed.

DLPC meetings have been initiated close on the heels of the completion of land acquisition and the subsequent handing over of land to DMRC through Kochi Metro Rail Limited for the widening of Banerjee Road, M.G. Road, and South Railway Station Road, the construction of North and Salim Rajan railway overbridges, and foot overbridge and Muttom yard.

Once an understanding is reached with land owners about the value of the land to be acquired, the land will be immediately acquired by paying 80 per cent of the value.

The rest of the amount will be handed over subject to a decision of the State Level Purchase Committee.

Compensation will be given for buildings to be demolished.

If a consensus proves elusive in the meeting with landowners, then the district administration will resort to acquisition proceedings by invoking the Land Acquisition Act.

Deputy Collector in charge of metro K.P. Mohandas Pillai and representatives of KMRL attended the meeting.